Document information management system

ABSTRACT

The document information management system according to the present invention comprises a hypertext preparing unit for preparing a hypertext; a file unit for storing therein correlated information files; a medium form information preparing unit for preparing medium for information from information in the hypertext; a medium form output unit for outputting the recording paper as a medium form; a selection information adding unit for adding selection information; a reader for reading the selection information and linkage information from the medium form; a retrieving unit for retrieving an appropriate correlated information file; and an output unit for outputting the correlated information file retrieved by the retrieving unit.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a document informationmanagement system managing document information printed on a paper, andmore particularly to a document information management system withimproved relation between a human and environment for a computer system(HCI: Human-Computer-Interaction) using paper on which a document isrecorded (medium form).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In recent years, in association with progress in the fields ofcomputer-related technology and man-machine interface or withimprovement in network environment, more and more documents have beenelectronized, and also in association with the technological progress,the tendency for paper-less environment in business offices has beenpromoted.

[0003] To describe the situation more concretely, various types ofdocument are prepared (electronized) on a screen of a personalcomputer/work station, and such operations as editing, copying,transferring, sharing, filing, proofreading, and retrieving theelectronized document information can easily be executed in a computersystem (in a digitalized world or in a virtual reality). Especially withdevelopment of a network, now it is possible to distribute (transfer) anelectronized document to each individual without outputting the documentwith such a device as a printer, which further promotes the tendency forpaper-less environment in offices.

[0004] Also an electronized document can automatically andsystematically be managed by a document information management systembuilt in a computer, so the works for sorting stored documents orretrieving a document which a user hopes to read have become easier, andfurther there are provided the advantages such as reduction of a totalvolume of documents by sharing documents among a plurality of users,improvement in security of secret documents by setting a password or thelike, and correlation of a plurality of documents to each other.

[0005] However, although electronized documents provide. various merits,when compared to a document outputted on actual recording paper(described as paper document hereinafter), there are various types ofrestriction in easiness to read; portability, easiness to be handled,environmental conditions for its availability, or continuity to actualwork, and for this reason, when using an electronized document for anactual job, in many cases it is more efficient to output theelectronized document with a printer or the like on recording paper onceand then use it as a paper document. So, in the office environment inthe future, paper documents and electronized documents would coexist andbe used according to a purpose of each job.

[0006] With the conventional technology, however, as there is nocontinuity or correlation of information as digital information betweenthe digital world such as a computer system and paper documents, therehave been the problems as described below.

[0007] At first, even when electronized documents are put undermanagement by a document information management system built in thedigital world, once an electronized document is outputted as a paperdocument, the correlated information which the electronized documenthas, such as address information, security information such as apassword, and linkage information for linking the document to otherdocument each in the document information management system disappear,and for this reason the paper document has only a value as output fromthe document information management system.

[0008] Secondly, as it is impossible to directly access the digitalworld using a paper document as a medium, it is required for a user tooperate a keyboard or the like to access it, which means low conveniencein actual use.

[0009] Although there has been a method to directly access the digitalworld using paper as a medium like in a case of a mark sheet, as apreviously formatted and dedicated mark sheet is used, there are variousrestrictions in actual use, and it can not be used as a generaldocument.

[0010] Thirdly, in the digital world, there is a hypertext documentbased on an advanced concept for an electronized document, but when thishypertext document is outputted as a paper document, only visualizedtwo-dimensional information is outputted and original information as ahypertext is lost, so that there are disadvantages such as loss ofinformation and lowering in its convenience.

[0011] Concretely, a hypertext is a group of linked (correlated) texts(electronized documents), and the basic concept is realization ofmulti-media software enabling the user to refer to each of textsmulti-dimensionally correlated in a layered form through link structurein an arbitrary order. For this reason, the hypertext document contains,in addition to information visually provided to the user, informationused for forming the link structure (namely, information as ahypertext). But once the hypertext document is outputted as a paperdocument, the information as the hypertext is lost, so that theoutputted paper document is not any more a hypertext document.

[0012] It should be noted that, as a hypertext document can exist onlyas an electronized document in the conventional technology, the conceptof hypertext itself has been used only in the digital world (virtualreality) in which electronized documents are treated. For this reason,there has not been a concept for realization of a hypertext by using apaper document, which is treated as a hypertext document, in the realworld (this concept is defined and described as a paper hypertexthereinafter).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] It is an object of the present invention to enable incorporationof a paper document in a document information management system in thedigital world, direct access to the digital world using the paperdocument as a medium, and further to realize a hypertext using the paperdocument (paper hypertext) by realizing continuity and correlation ofinformation between the digital world such as a computer system and apaper document.

[0014] The document information management system according to thepresent invention comprises a hypertext preparing unit for preparing ahypertext; a file unit for storing therein hypertexts prepared by thehypertext preparing unit and correlated information files correlated toeach other through link structure of the hypertexts; a medium forminformation preparing unit for receiving the hypertext, preparing imageextraction information by extracting only image data from information inthe hypertext, preparing particular described information as well aslinkage information for linking the described information to acorrelated information file in the file unit from information havinglink structure such as a button, a switch, or an icon of information inthe hypertext, and preparing medium form information by synthesizing theimage extraction information, described information, and linkageinformation; a medium form output unit for printing the medium forminformation on recording paper and outputting the recording paper as amedium form; a selection information adding unit for adding selectioninformation for selecting a desired described information from thoseprinted on the medium form; a reader for reading the selectioninformation and linkage information from the medium form with theselection information added via the selection information adding unit; aretrieving unit for retrieving an appropriate correlated informationfile from the file unit according to the selection information as wellas linkage information read by the reader; and an output unit foroutputting the correlated information file retrieved by the retrievingunit, so that continuity and correlation of information between adigital world such as a computer system and a paper document can beconstructed, a paper document can be incorporated in the documentinformation management system in the digital world, direct access to thedigital world can be achieved by using the paper document as a medium,and further a hypertext using the paper document (paper hypertext) canbe realized.

[0015] Other objects and features of this invention will becomeunderstood from the following description with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a document informationmanagement system-according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a medium form according toEmbodiment 1;

[0018]FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a linked relation between aDicon (described information) and the correlated information file in afile unit;

[0019]FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a method of describingDicons;

[0020]FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an example of adding(marking) a mark (selection information) to the medium form with amarker (selection information adding unit);

[0021]FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing described positioninformation which is a portion of linkage information;

[0022]FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing an example of describedposition information and address information each constituting linkageinformation (a linkage information table);

[0023]FIGS. 8A and 8B are explanatory views showing an example ofdescribed position information and description recognizing informationeach constituting linkage information (a linkage information table);

[0024]FIG. 9 is a flowchart schematically showing processing forpreparing/registering the hypertext or medium form according toEmbodiment 1;

[0025]FIG. 10 is a flow chart schematically showing processing foroutputting (displaying and printing) the hypertext or medium formaccording to Embodiment 1;

[0026]FIG. 11 is a flow chart schematically showing processing foroutputting (displaying and printing) the medium form informationaccording to Embodiment 1;

[0027]FIG. 12 is a flow chart schematically showing processing forretrieving/outputting correlated information using the medium formaccording to Embodiment 1;

[0028]FIG. 13 is a system diagram showing a document informationmanagement system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

[0029]FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing a medium form according toEmbodiment 3;

[0030]FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing an example of configurationof file unit specifying information according to Embodiment 3;

[0031]FIGS. 16A and 16B are explanatory views showing a method of usingfile unit specifying information according to Embodiment 3;

[0032]FIG. 17 is a flow chart schematically showing processing forretrieving/outputting correlated information using the medium formaccording to Embodiment 3;

[0033]FIG. 18 is a flow chart schematically showing processing formanaging versions according to Embodiment 3;

[0034]FIG. 19 is a flow chart schematically showing processing forretrieving/outputting correlated information and the medium formaccording to Embodiment 3;

[0035]FIG. 20 is a system diagram showing a document informationmanagement system according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;

[0036]FIG. 21 is a flow chart schematically showing processing forretrieving/outputting correlated information according to Embodiment 4;

[0037]FIG. 22 is a system diagram showing a document informationmanagement system according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention;

[0038]FIG. 23 is a flow chart schematically showing processing forretrieving/outputting correlated information according to Embodiment 5;

[0039]FIG. 24 is a system diagram showing a document informationmanagement system according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention;

[0040]FIG. 25 is a system diagram showing a document informationmanagement system according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention;

[0041]FIG. 26 is a flow chart schematically showing processing forretrieving/outputting correlated information when the medium form isread by using a scanner unit (correlated information identifying unit)in Embodiment 7;

[0042]FIG. 27 is a flow chart schematically showing processing forretrieving/outputting correlated information when the medium form isread by using the scanner unit (correlated information identifying unit)in Embodiment 7; and

[0043]FIG. 28 is a flow chart schematically showing processing forretrieving/outputting correlated information when the medium form isread by using a scanner (image data reader) in Embodiment 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0044] Detailed description is made hereinafter for the documentinformation management system according to the present invention withreference to the attached drawings in the order of Embodiment 1 toEmbodiment 7.

[0045] Detailed description is made hereinafter for a documentinformation management system according to Embodiment 1 with referenceto the attached drawings in the order of the following items.

[0046] (1) System configuration of the document information managementsystem according to Embodiment 1

[0047] (2) Presentation of the concept of PUI

[0048] (3) Configuration of a medium form

[0049] (4) Roles of Dicons (described information)

[0050] (5) Concrete examples of selection information

[0051] (6) Configuration of linkage information

[0052] (7) Practical operations of the document information managementsystem

[0053] (7)-1 Processing for preparing/registering a hypertext or amedium form

[0054] (7)-2 Processing for outputting a medium form

[0055] (7)-3 Processing for retrieving/outputting correlatedinformation.

[0056] (1) System configuration of the document information managementsystem according to Embodiment 1

[0057]FIG. 1 shows a system diagram of the document informationmanagement system according to Embodiment 1, and the system comprises anetwork terminal 10 as a hypertext preparing unit for preparing ahypertext; a file server 20 as a retrieving unit for retrieving a fileunit for storing therein a hypertext prepared by the network terminal 10and a correlated information files correlated thereto by link structureof the hypertext as well as correlated information files; a printerserver 30 as a medium form information preparing unit for receiving thehypertext, preparing image extraction information by extracting onlyimage data from information concerning the hypertext, preparingparticular described information as well as linkage information forlinking the described information to a correlated information file inthe file server 20 from information having link structure such as abutton, a switch, or an icon of information concerning the hypertext,and preparing the medium form information by synthesizing the imageextraction information, described information, and linkage information;a printer 40 as a medium form output unit for printing the medium forminformation on recording paper and outputting the recording paper as amedium form 201; a marker 50 as a selection information adding unit foradding a mark (selection information) 51 for selecting a desireddescribed information from those printed on the medium form 201; ascanner 60 as a reader for reading the selection information and linkageinformation from the medium form 201 with the mark (selectioninformation) 51 added by the marker 50; a network terminal equipment 70as a retrieving unit for retrieving an appropriate correlatedinformation file from the file server 20 according to the selectioninformation as well as linkage information read by the scanner 60; aprinter 80 as an output unit for outputting the correlated informationfile 81 retrieved by the network terminal equipment 70 on recordingpaper; and a network terminal equipment 90 as a display unit fordisplaying the output unit for outputting the correlated informationfile 81 retrieved by the network terminal equipment 70 on a displayscreen as well as the medium form information each on the screen.

[0058] It should be noted that each of the units is connected, as shownin the figure, directly or indirectly to a network Net. It is assumedherein that the Internet or Intranet or the like is used as the networkNet, but it is not particularly restricted thereto.

[0059] The network terminal equipment (hypertext preparing unit) 10comprises any existing personal computer or word processor and existingeditor or word processor software, so the terminal equipment may be anydevice that can prepare information as a hypertext by describinginformation with a hypertext description language such as HTML. Itshould be noted that it is assumed herein that a prepared hypertext canbe stored, by giving a function as a medium form information preparingunit to the network terminal equipment 10, in the file server 20 as itis, or that medium form information is prepared from the preparedhypertext and the medium form information can be stored in the fileserver 20 each according to selection by a user.

[0060] Any existing Web server can be used for the file server (fileunit) 20. It should be noted that the file server 20 stores therein adocument in a hypertext form and also stores medium form information asan image file. Any correlated information file referred to from ahypertext is also stored therein as a hypertext. Further, there isincorporated in the file server 20 retrieval software for a server (aportion of the retrieving unit) for retrieving any hypertext as well ascorrelated information file stored in the file server 20 according to arequest from retrieval software for a client in the network terminalequipment (retrieving unit) 70 described later. It should be noted that,in order to simplify description, it is assumed herein that one unit offile server 20 is provided as a file unit, but the number of the fileserver 20 is not particularly restricted, and a plurality of fileservers may be provided on the network Net.

[0061] The printer server (medium form information preparing unit) 30comprises medium form information preparing software includingtwo-dimensional bar code coding software and HTML source code developingsoftware (e.g. a browser for the Internet/Intranet or the like).Although further details are described later, medium form information isprepared by developing HTML source code of a hypertext, generating atext section as image extraction information, encoding the HTML sourcecode of the hypertext to two-dimensional bar code, generating a codearea indicating described information and linkage information, andfurther synthesizing the text section and the code area.

[0062] Although a printer server is used herein as a medium forminformation preparing unit, it is not particularly restricted thereto,and it is needless to say that any device such as a personalcomputer/work station enabling execution of the medium form informationpreparing software may be employed. Also, a function as a medium forminformation preparing unit may be given to the file server 20 in placeof discretely providing the printer server 30 as a medium forminformation preparing unit.

[0063] Any existing printer can be used for the printer (medium formoutput unit) 40, but it is desirable that a color printer is used tomatch levels of expression each other between a hypertext and a mediumform 201. It may be said in this connection that blue is generally usedon a display unit for a color of a button on a hypertext on theInternet/Intranet. When a document is stored in a hypertext form in thefile server 20, the printer server (medium form information preparingunit) 30 prepares medium form information as image data, prints thismedium form information on recording paper, and outputs the medium form201.

[0064] Any existing scanner can be used for the scanner (reader) 60 andis generally used by being connected to an existing personal computer orthe like for connection thereof to a network Net. As shown in FIG. 1,the scanner more efficiently works by being connected to the networkterminal equipment (retrieving unit) 70. Also, any digital copyingmachine or the like may be used as a reader.

[0065] It should be noted that the scanner (reader) 60 reads, when amark 51 is read by using a method of identifying any marking (a methodof detecting a marked section using a difference from a referenceimage), a text section as raster information from the medium form 201 towhich a mark 51 is added by a marker 50, and also reads a code area onthe medium form 201 as raster information.

[0066] The network terminal equipment (retrieving unit) 70 comprises anyexisting personal computer or work station, and also has a correlatedinformation identifying section for receiving selection information aswell as linkage information read by the scanner 60 and identifying anappropriate correlated information file, and incorporates thereinretrieval software for a client.

[0067] The correlated information identifying section comprises atwo-dimensional bar code decoder, HTML source code developing software(e.g. any browser for the Internet/Intranet), and marking identifyingsoftware.

[0068] The retrieval software for a client identifies an appropriatefile server 20 according to an address of the correlated informationfile identified by the correlated information identifying section, sendsthe address of the correlated information file, and controls thesecurity according to a user ID and a password.

[0069] Any existing printer can be used for the printer (output unit)80. However, when a correlated information file to be outputted is adocument not including described information (namely, an ordinarydocument which is not a paper hypertext), any ordinary monochromeprinter mat be used, but when a correlated information file to beoutputted itself is a medium form 201 (namely, a paper hypertext), it ispreferable to use a color printer as the printer (medium form outputunit) 40.

[0070] The network terminal equipment (display unit) 90 is a displayunit such as any existing personal computer or work station, and ingeneral, the network terminal equipment (hypertext preparing unit) 10 orthe display unit of the network terminal equipment (retrieving unit) 70are used. In other words, the network terminal equipment 90 is notrequired to be provided as a discrete device, so that the networkterminal equipments 70 and 90 can be shared, which is more efficient.

[0071] In description of the system diagram shown in FIG. 1, in order tomake description clearer, it is assumed that the network terminalequipment 10 is used as a hypertext preparing unit, the network terminalequipment 70 is used as a retrieving unit, and the network terminalequipment 90 is used as a display unit, but any existing personalcomputers can be used for the network terminal equipments 10, 70, and 90respectively, so that, in actual use, each of the network terminalequipments 10, 70, and 90 can be used, without being restricted to anyparticular role, as a hypertext preparing unit, retrieving unit, ordisplay unit as required.

[0072] Further, system configuration in FIG. 1 shows a case where one ortwo devices are provided in correspondence to each unit according to thepresent invention, but the number of devices corresponding to each ofthe units is not particularly restricted, and a plurality of devices aresupposed to be provided on the network Net in actual use if necessary.

[0073] (2) Presentation of the concept of PUI

[0074] As clearly understood from description made below, the documentinformation management system according to Embodiment 1 can realizecontinuity and relation of information between the digital world such asa computer system or the like (hypertexts and correlated informationfiles in the file unit) and a paper document (a medium form 201), andthe medium form 201 can be incorporated in the document informationmanagement system of the digital world, and also it is possible todirectly access the digital world using the medium form 201 as a mediumand furthermore to realize a paper hypertext using the medium form 201.

[0075] So, the document information management system according to thepresent invention is presented as PUI (Paper User Interaction) herein asa system for realizing Interaction (information transfer, an interactiveinterface) between a User (person) and a computer with Paper (mediumform 201).

[0076] Further, a paper document is handled as a hypertext document, anda concept for realizing a hypertext using a paper document in the realworld is defined as a paper hypertext. Accordingly, a medium form 201used for the PUI indicates a hypertext document itself in the concept onthe paper hypertext, and a Dicon in the medium form 201 indicates aswitch printed on the paper (equivalent to a button or an icon in anordinary hypertext).

[0077] (3) Configuration of the medium form

[0078] Detailed description is further made for the medium form 201 inthe PUI. The medium form 201 is paper (form) on which are recorded Diconas at least one described information comprising any of words,sentences, symbols, and graphics, linkage information for correlatingthe Dicon to a hypertext or a correlated information file in the fileserver (file unit) 20, selection information for selecting a particularDicon in Dicons, and further document identifying information (describedas Inper ID) for identifying the recorded document. However, describedinformation, linkage information, and document identifying informationare previously recorded on the medium form 201, but selectioninformation is supposed to be recorded on the medium form 201 as a mark51 by arbitrarily being written (marked) by a user using a marker(selection information adding unit) 50.

[0079]FIG. 2 shows a concrete example of the medium form 201, and FIG. 2shows the medium form 201 in a document form in which Dicons arearranged in the document as structural elements for an ordinarydocument. As shown in FIG. 2, words and texts are recorded on the mediumform 201 in a document form as a text Dicon 202, an icon (symbol)indicating a document is recorded thereon as a symbol Dicon 203, acomputer graphics are recorded thereon as a graphic Dicon 204, and wordsand a short text are recorded thereon as a title Dicon 205. Also linkageinformation and document identifying information are recorded in a codearea 206 in an optically readable form-like two-dimensional bar code. Itshould be noted that the reference numeral 207 indicates Inper ID shownwith characters so that a user can identify contents of the documentidentifying information, and the reference numeral 208 indicates OwnerID shown with characters so that the user can identify an owner of themedium form 201. The Owner ID is also recorded on the code area 206 asowner information.

[0080] As described above, the medium form .201 in a document form isvisually the same as an ordinary document outputted on recording paper.Accordingly, it is needless to say that the medium form 201 can be usedas an ordinary document.

[0081] Accordingly, as clearly understood from the medium form 201, themedium form 201 in the present invention can be defined as a specificpaper document which is readable by both a human (user) and a computersystem (digital world).

[0082] (4) Roles of Dicons (described information)

[0083] Detailed description is made herein for roles of Dicons eachrecorded on the medium form 201.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 3, Dicons (202 to 205) recorded on the mediumform 201 are linked (correlated) to the hypertext or the correlatedinformation files in the file server (file unit) 20 through the linkageinformation in the code area 206. Accordingly, when a desired Dicon isselected among the plurality of Dicons recorded on the medium form 201,any hypertext or correlated information files linked to the selectedDicon can be identified. It should be noted that any ordinary documentfile or any file in a hypertext form (namely, a hypertext) may be usedfor a correlated information file. So, any case where description of “acorrelated information file” is found indicate a file including ahypertext hereinafter.

[0085] Namely, each of the Dicons has a role as visual informationrecorded on the medium form 201, and also plays a role of a switch forselecting the correlated information file. In other words,conceptionally, Dicons are defined as ones playing roles as switcheslike buttons or icons on the hyper text.

[0086] Next description is made for types of Dicon. The Dicon comprises,as shown in FIG. 2, such four types of Dicon as a text Dicon 202, asymbol Dicon 203, a graphic Dicon 204, and a title Dicon 205, and eachof the Dicons is defined as follows.

[0087] A text Dicon:

[0088] A Dicon written in forms of words and short sentences each usedin a text in a hypertext form.

[0089] A symbol Dicon:

[0090] An icon-formed Dicon added to the end of a long sentence, oradded to the entire contents of a medium form.

[0091] A graphic Dicon:

[0092] A Dicon in a form of rough illustrations and photographs eachlinking to detailed illustrations, photographs, and drawings (correlatedinformation files).

[0093] A title Dicon:

[0094] A Dicon in which a title of correlated information file to whichthe appropriate Dicon is linked is written in a form of contents or alist or the like.

[0095]FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a method of indicatingDicons. It is required to visually differentiate Dicons from informationother than the Dicons so that a user can easily and accurately recognizethe Dicons on the medium form 201. Accordingly, in the presentinvention, Dicons can be distinguished therefrom by being decorated orcolored as described later. It should be noted that this decoration orcoloring thereto is preferably the same as the decoration or coloring onthe display screen of the hypertext which is an original for a mediumform 201.

[0096] It should be noted that, as shown in the figure, a method ofcoloring the back ground, a method of changing fonts (e.g. a Ming-styletype to a Gothic type or the like), a method of changing styles of type(e.g. a Italic type, a bold-face, addition of an underline or the like),a method of changing colors of characters (e.g. black to blue), and amethod of enclosing a Dicon with a flame are applicable to decoration inthe text Dicon 202.

[0097] As shown in the figure, a method of enclosing a Dicon with aframe and a method of coloring the back ground are also applicable tothe decoration in the title Dicon 205 as well as in the graphic Dicon204.

[0098] Decoration is not required for the symbol Dicon 203 because theDicon itself is clearly identified as a Dicon. However, it is needlessto say that decoration may be provided thereon.

[0099] (5) Concrete example of selection information

[0100] Selection information is information for selecting a particularDicon among the Dicons described on the medium form 201. In Embodiment1, a mark 51 added (marked) to any Dicon by the marker (selectioninformation adding unit) 50 as described above is used as selectioninformation. It should be noted that any types of writing tool may beused for adding a mark (marking) to one of Dicons if the mark can beoptically read by the scanner (reader) 60, and generally, a felt tip penor the like may be used.

[0101] In this case, a high identification rate can be obtained bypreviously specifying a color of the marker 50 and using a color scanneras a scanner 60.

[0102]FIG. 5 shows an example of adding (marking) marks (selectioninformation) 51 to some Dicons with the marker (selection informationadding unit) 50.

[0103] (6) Configuration of linkage information

[0104] Linkage information is information described in a code area 206as two-dimensional bar code as described above and for linking any Diconto the correlated information file in the file server (file unit) 20.

[0105] Also linkage information comprises, for example, describedposition information for each of the Dicons on the medium form 201 andaddress information for correlating the described position informationto the correlated information files, or comprises described positioninformation for each of the Dicons on the medium form 201 anddescription recognizing information for identifying describedinformation described at a position indicated by the described positioninformation respectively.

[0106] Herein, description is made for the described positioninformation which is a portion of linkage information with reference toFIG. 6. The described position information is information for specifyinga position of each of Dicons on the medium form respectively, and maycomprise, for instance, as shown in the figure, information comprisingpositions and areas of Dicons on a map and a Dicon number allocated toeach of Dicons in the order of its appearance on the map using the mapcorresponding to coordinates of the medium form 201.

[0107]FIG. 7 shows an example in which this described positioninformation and address information constitute linkage information (a,table of linkage information). As clearly understood from the table oflinkage information, when any described position information isidentified, an address of the corresponding correlated information fileis identified. Namely, when any Dicon is selected with the selectioninformation (mark 51) as shown in FIG. 5, a position of the coordinateson the map shown in FIG. 6 is identified from the position ofcoordinates of the selection information, and correlated informationfiles corresponding to the Dicon can be retrieved according to thedescribed position information (a Dicon Number) for the identifiedposition of coordinates. For this reason, Dicon and the correlatedinformation files can be linked to each other with the linkageinformation.

[0108] It should be noted that, as shown in the figure, it is assumedherein that address information is described with URL (uniform resourcelocator). By using URL as an address of each correlated information fileas described above, for example, by connecting a plurality of fileservers 20 located in any. places to each other through the Internet,the system can be used without being aware of each of the file servers20.

[0109]FIG. 8A shows an example in which described position informationand description recognizing information constitute linkage information(a table of linkage information). Herein, description recognizinginformation is information for recognizing Dicons each described at aposition indicated by each of described position information, and, forinstance, by previously allocating a Dicon ID to each of Dicons, thisDicon ID can be used. As clearly understood from the table of linkageinformation, when the described position information is identified, thecorresponding description recognizing information (Dicon ID) isidentified. Namely, when any Dicon is selected with the selectioninformation as shown in FIG. 5, a position of the coordinates on the mapshown in FIG. 6 is specified from the position of the coordinatesindicating the selection information, and the corresponding Dicon ID canbe identified according to the described position information (a DiconNumber) indicating the identified position of coordinates.

[0110] In this case, by providing a conversion table to addresses (anintermediate address table) in the side of network terminal equipment(retrieving unit) 70 shown in FIG. 8B, corresponding correlatedinformation file can be retrieved from a Dicon ID. In other words, aDicon and the correlated information file can be linked with linkageinformation.

[0111] As clearly understood from the linkage information table shown inFIG. 7 and FIG. 8, in the linkage information (a linkage informationtable) in FIG. 7, described position information (in short, a Dicon) andaddress information (in short, a correlated information file) are linkedone to one, and the linkage information table itself plays a role of atable of Dicon ID-address conversion, so that the table is suitable fora case where a Dicon is prepared on the medium form 201 and then thecorrelated information file is prepared. However, in this case, it isdifficult to change the addresses of correlated information files aftera medium form is prepared, so that linkage information shown in FIG. 7is appropriate for a small-scale system.

[0112] On the other hand, in the linkage information (a linkageinformation table) shown in FIG. 8, described position information (inshort, a Dicon) and description recognizing information (Dicon ID) areonly linked one to one, and linkage of the description recognizinginformation to the correlated information file is executed with thetable of Dicon ID-address conversion (an intermediate address table)provided in the side of the retrieving unit 70, so that, for instance,when description recognizing information is defined as general (common)information in an entire system, a Dicon and the correlated informationfile can be linked to each other only by setting one set of table ofDicon ID-address conversion in the side of the retrieving unit 70.Accordingly high extendibility and managing capability of the system canbe achieved, and for this reason linkage information shown in FIG. 8 isappropriate for construction of a large-scale system.

[0113] Also, when described position information is defined as aspecific information in each of medium forms, for example, a Dicon andthe correlated information file can be linked to each other by setting atable of Dicon ID-address conversion for each of medium forms in theretrieving unit 70.

[0114] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, a quantity of data for linkageinformation in a code area 206 can be reduced by specifying an area inwhich a Dicon can be set on the medium form 201 as required. Especially,it is effective when Dicons on the medium form are arranged in one side.

[0115] It should be noted that the linkage information described above(in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8) indicates the case where a Dicon finallycorresponds to the correlated information file one to one (1:1), but theconfiguration is not limited to this one in the present invention, andit is needless to say that such cases as a correlation of one toplurality (1:n) and that of plurality to one (n:1) are included in thecorrelation between Dicons and the correlated information files.

[0116] (7) Concrete operations of the document information managementsystem

[0117] In the configuration as described above, description is made forthe operations of the system in the order of (7)-1 Processing forpreparing/registering a hypertext or a medium form, (7)-2 Processing foroutputting a hypertext or a medium form, and (7)-3 Processing forretrieving/outputting the correlated information. However, an example inEmbodiment 1 assumes the case where a linkage information table (tableof Dicon ID-address conversion) shown in FIG. 7 is used as a linkageinformation table.

[0118] (7) -1 Processing for preparing/registering a hypertext or amedium form

[0119]FIG. 9 shows a general flow chart of the processing forpreparing/registering a hypertext or a medium form according toEmbodiment 1. At first, a document is described in a hypertextdescription language such as HTML and prepared as a hypertext using anetwork terminal equipment (hypertext preparing unit) 10 (S901). Then,selection is made as to whether the hypertext prepared on the networkterminal equipment 10 is to be registered as a hypertext or as a mediumform 201 (S902).

[0120] In step S902, when it is specified that the hypertext is to beregistered as a hypertext, the network terminal equipment 10 transfersthe prepared hypertext to the file server 20 via a network Net (S903) .The file server stores, when having received a hypertext, the hypertextin the storing section 21 (a hard disk in the file server 20), sends thestored address (URL) to the network terminal equipment 10, and completesthe registration (S904).

[0121] On the other hand, in step S902, when it is specified that theprepared hypertext is to be registered as a medium form 201, the networkterminal equipment 10 prepares medium form information from the preparedhypertext (S905) by having the function as a medium form informationpreparing unit executed, and transfers the prepared medium forminformation (data for an image identical to the output image of themedium form 201) to the file server 20 (S906). To describe morespecifically, at first, the network terminal equipment 10 develops HTMLsource code of the hypertext prepared in step S901 using HTML sourcecode developing software, generates a text section which is imageextraction information, then prepares described information and linkageinformation from the information having link structure such as a button,a switch, or an icon in the HTML source code of the hypertext using thetwo-dimensional bar code coding software, generates a code area 206 byencoding the described information and linkage information totwo-dimensional bar code, and further prepares medium form informationby synthesizing the text section and the code area 206.

[0122] The file server 20 stores, when having received medium forminformation, the medium form information in the storing section 21 (ahard disk in the file server 20), sends the stored address (URL) to thenetwork terminal equipment 10, and completes the registration (S907).

[0123] As described above, in Embodiment 1, the prepared hypertext canbe registered to the file server 20 as it is and also can be registeredthereto as medium form information (data for an image identical to theoutput image of the medium form 201), so that a format to be registeredcan be selected as required. Accordingly, a medium form 201 can beoutputted from the medium form information even when a device in theoutput side such as a printer or a display unit has no HTML source codedeveloping software. For a hypertext required to be often outputted as amedium form 201, it is previously registered as medium form information,which allows the time required for executing the processing to bereduced with no necessity for the device in the output side to generatemedium form information.

[0124] (7)-2 Processing for outputting a hypertext or a medium form

[0125] Next description is made for output processing for displaying orprinting any hypertext or medium form information registered in the fileserver 20 with reference to the general flow charts shown in FIG. 10 andFIG. 11.

[0126]FIG. 10 shows a general flow chart of the processing foroutputting a hypertext or a medium form (the processing for displayingand printing) . When the processing for outputting a hypertext is to beexecuted, if a user inputs a stored address (URL) of a desired hypertextusing a network terminal equipment (retrieving unit) 70 (S1001), thenetwork terminal equipment (retrieving unit) 70 executes retrievalsoftware for a client, identifies a file server 20 in which thehypertext is stored according to the stored address (URL) of thehypertext, and transfers the stored address (URL) to the file server 20(S1002). By identifying the file server 20 using the stored address(URL) as described above, a desired file server 20 can accurately andeasily be identified even when a plurality of file servers 20 exist onthe network Net.

[0127] The file server (which functions herein as a retrieving unit) 20executes, when having received a stored address (URL) of a hypertext,the retrieval software for a server, retrieves a hypertext according tothe stored address (URL) of the hypertext, and transfers the appropriatehypertext to the network terminal equipment 70 (S1003).

[0128] The network terminal equipment 70 makes selection, when havingreceived the appropriate hypertext (S1004), as to whether the receivedhypertext is to be displayed on a display unit or the hypertext is to beoutputted as a medium form 201 according to specification by the user(S1005).

[0129] In step S1005, when it is specified that the received hypertextis to be displayed on a display unit, the network terminal equipment 70displays the received hypertext on the display unit (S1006).

[0130] Also, in step S1005, when it is specified that the receivedhypertext is to be outputted as a medium form 201, the network terminalequipment 70 transfers the appropriate hypertext to the printer server(medium form information preparing unit) 30 (S1007).

[0131] The printer server (medium form information preparing unit) 30first develops, when having received the hypertext, the HTML source codeof the hypertext using the HTML source code developing software, thenencodes the HTML source code of the hypertext to the two-dimensional barcode using the two-dimensional bar code coding software, preparesdescribed information and linkage information from the informationhaving link structure such as a button, a switch, an icon in the HTMLsource code of the hypertext, generates a code area 206 by encoding thedescribed information and linkage information to the two-dimensional barcode, further prepares medium form information by synthesizing the textsection and the code area 206 (S1008), and transfers the prepared mediumform information to the printer (medium form output unit) 40 (S1009).

[0132] The printer (medium form output unit) 40 prints, when havingreceived the medium form information (data for an image identical to theoutput image of the medium form 201), the medium form information onrecording paper and outputs it as a medium form 201 (S1010).

[0133] In steps S1007 to S1010, there has been shown the example inwhich the hypertext is transferred to the printer server 30 and mediumform information is prepared by the printer server 30, but, it is alsopossible, for example, to prepare medium form information in the side ofthe network terminal equipment 70, then directly transfer the mediumform information to a printer 40, and output the medium form 201.

[0134]FIG. 11 shows a general flow chart of the processing foroutputting medium form information (the processing for displaying andprinting). When the processing for outputting the medium forminformation stored in the file server 20 is to be executed, if a userinputs a stored address (URL) of desired medium form information to anetwork terminal equipment (retrieving unit) 70 (S1101), the networkterminal equipment (retrieving unit) 70 executes retrieval software fora client, identifies a file server 20 in which the medium forminformation is stored according to the stored address (URL) of themedium form information, and transfers the stored address (URL) to thefile server 20 (S1102). By identifying the file server 20 using thestored address (URL) as described above, a desired file server 20 canaccurately and easily be identified even when a plurality of fileservers 20 exist on the network Net.

[0135] The file server (which functions herein as a retrieving unit) 20executes, when having received a stored address (URL) of medium forminformation, the retrieval software for a server, retrieves medium forminformation according to the stored address (URL) of the medium forminformation, and transfers the appropriate medium form information tothe network terminal equipment 70 (S1103).

[0136] The network terminal equipment 70 makes selection, when havingreceived the appropriate medium form information (S1104), as to whetherthe received medium form information is to be displayed on a displayunit or the medium form information is to be outputted as a medium form201 according to specification by the user (S1105).

[0137] In step S1105, when it is selected that the information is to beoutputted as a medium form 201, the network terminal equipment 70transfers the appropriate medium form information to the printer 40(S1106). The printer 40 prints, when having received the medium forminformation, the medium form information on recording paper and outputsit as a medium form 201 (S1107).

[0138] Also, in step S1105, when it is selected that the information isto be displayed on a display unit, the network terminal equipment 70deletes the code area from the received medium form information, anddisplays it on the display unit as a hypertext (S1108).

[0139] (7)-3 Processing for retrieving/outputting correlated information

[0140] Next description is made for the processing forretrieving/outputting correlated information for retrieving correlatedinformation (correlated information file) corresponding to the describedinformation on a medium form 201 from the file server 20 using themedium form 201.

[0141]FIG. 12 shows a general flow chart of the processing forretrieving/outputting correlated information using the medium form 201according to Embodiment 1. At first, as shown in FIG. 5, a mark(selection information) 51 is previously added to desired describedinformation (Dicon) on a medium form 201 using the marker (selectioninformation adding unit) 50.

[0142] Then, the medium form 201 with the mark(s) 51 added thereto isread by the scanner (reader) 60 (S1201). In this case, the scanner 60reads a code area 206 from the medium form 201 as raster information andalso reads a text section with the mark(s) 51 added thereto. With thoseoperations, linkage information and selection information are supposedto be read.

[0143] The network terminal equipment (retrieving unit) 70 decodes, whenhaving received the code area 206 read by the scanner 60 as well asimage data for the text section, the two-dimensional bar code of thecode area 206 using the two-dimensional bar code decoder in thecorrelated information identifying section and obtains the HTML sourcecode of the original hypertext and linkage information or the like, andthen, develops the decoded HTML source code to raster information usingthe HTML source code developing software, extracts a difference betweenthe developed raster information and the raster information in the readtext section using the marking identifying software, obtains an imagefor the mark (selection information) 51 as well as a noise image (aslight displacement between the two raster information), further removesthe noise image by filtering, and identifies the mark (selectioninformation) 51. Then, the network terminal equipment 70 identifiesdescribed position information (Refer to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8) from thecoordinate values of the mark 51, and identifies an address (URL) of thecorrelated information file from the corresponding address information(S1202).

[0144] Then, a file server 20 is identified using the retrieval softwarefor a client according to the address (URL) of the correlatedinformation file (S1203).

[0145] Then, determination is made as to whether security control hasbeen set or not (S1204), the processing goes to step S1207 when it isdetermined that the security control has not been provided, and goes tostep S1205 when it is determined that the security control has beenprovided.

[0146] In step S1205, the retrieval software for a client requests auser to enter the “user ID, password”, and transfers the entered “userID, password” and the Owner information previously described in the codearea 206 to the file server 20. Then, in step S1206, the retrievalsoftware for a server verifies the user ID and the password against thereceived “user ID, password” and the Owner information. Herein, when itis determined that the verification is made, the user is noticed thataccess to the retrieval software for a client in the network terminalequipment 70 has been permitted.

[0147] In step S1207, the retrieval software for a client transfers theaddress (URL) of the correlated information file to the file server 20.

[0148] The file server 20 retrieves, when having received the address(URL) of the correlated information file, an appropriate correlatedinformation file (S1208), and transfers the retrieved correlatedinformation file to the printer (output unit) 80 (S1209). However, whenthe correlated information file itself is a hypertext, as it is requiredto output the correlated information file as a medium form 201, mediumform information is prepared in the printer server (medium forminformation preparing unit) 30 once (S1210), then the medium forminformation is transferred to the printer (output unit) 80 or to theprinter (medium form output unit) 40.

[0149] The printer 80 or 40 outputs the received correlated informationfile (including the medium form information) on recording paper as acorrelated information file 81 (S1211).

[0150] As described above, with the document information managementsystem according to Embodiment 1, a medium form 201 is prepared from ahypertext, and continuity as well as correlation of information betweenthe hypertext as a document in the digital world such as a computer,system and the medium form 201 as a paper document is constructedthrough the linkage information on the medium form 201, so that a paperdocument can be incorporated in the document information managementsystem in the digital world, direct access to the digital world can beachieved by using the paper document as a medium, and further ahypertext using the paper document (paper hypertext) can be realized.

[0151] In a document information management system according toEmbodiment 2 of the present invention, in the same system configurationas that of the document information management system according toEmbodiment 1, linkage information (linkage information table) comprisesdescribed position information and description recognizing informationas shown in FIG. 8A, and further a table of Dicon ID-address conversion(intermediate address table) for converting description recognizinginformation to an address of the correlated information file isprovided, as shown in FIG. 8B, in the side of file server (file serveras a retrieving unit) 20 or in the side of network terminal equipment(retrieving unit) 70.

[0152] By providing the table of Dicon ID-address conversion(intermediate address table) in the side of file server (retrievingunit) 20 or in the side of network terminal equipment (retrieving unit)70 as described above, it is possible that such operations as deletionof any correlated information file, change of the contents thereof, orchange of a link to other correlated information files can integrally bemanaged.

[0153] It should be noted that, in Embodiment 1, it is not clear towhich medium form 201 an arbitrary correlated information file is linkedunless a user checks all linkage information on the medium form 201.Accordingly, in order to delete the correlated information file, changethe contents, and change the link or the like, necessary steps has to betaken for all of the outputted medium forms 201 considering the effectsthereof.

[0154] In contrast, in Embodiment 2, as addresses of correlatedinformation files are managed on the intermediate address table, it ispossible to integrally manage the addresses only by rewriting addressesof the correlated information files on the intermediate address tableeven when such operations as deletion of any correlated informationfile, change of the contents thereof, or change of the link areperformed. For example, when information in a correlated informationfile A is to be updated, because of being old, to information in a newcorrelated information file B, only the intermediate address table inthe file server (retrieving unit) 20 or in the network terminalequipment (retrieving unit) 70 may be rewritten.

[0155]FIG. 13 is a system diagram showing a document informationmanagement system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Inthe document information management system according to Embodiment 3, aplurality of file units are provided therein and file unit specifyinginformation for specifying a file unit with an appropriate hypertextstored therein from the plurality of file units is described in the codearea on a medium form. It should be noted that, as the basic systemconfiguration is the same as that according to Embodiment 1, the samereference numerals are allocated to those corresponding to the samedevices, so that only the sections different therefrom are explained indetailed herein.

[0156] In FIG. 13, the reference numeral 20A indicates a file server (aportion of a file unit and a retrieving unit) and stores therein ahypertext and the correlated information files correlated theretothrough link structure of the hypertext. It should be noted that theinformation stored in this file server 20A is supposed to be basicallyavailable by all users on the network Net. Accordingly, there are storedfiles for shared information in this file server 20.

[0157] The reference numeral 70B indicates a network terminal equipment(retrieving unit) and, as shown in the figure, the scanner 60, printer40, and a file device 20B described below are connected to the terminalequipment, and a personal computer system is constructed with thosedevices.

[0158] The reference numeral 20B indicates a file device for storingtherein hypertexts and correlated information files, which is connected,as shown in the figure, to a network Net via the network terminalequipment 70B. Accordingly, the same function as that in the file server20A is performed by this file device 20B as well as some of thefunctions in the network terminal equipment 70B.

[0159] In Embodiment 3, the processing for preparing medium forminformation in the printer server (medium form information preparingunit) 30 and the network terminal equipment 70 comprises the steps ofreceiving a hypertext; preparing image extraction information byextracting only image data from the information concerning thehypertext; preparing particular described information as well as linkageinformation for linking the described information to a correlatedinformation file in a particular file unit among the plurality of fileunits from the information having link structure such as a button, aswitch, or an icon among the information on the hypertext; furtherpreparing file unit specifying information for specifying a file unit inwhich the appropriate hypertext is stored from the plurality of fileunits; and preparing the medium form information by synthesizing theimage extraction information, described information, linkageinformation, and file unit specifying information.

[0160]FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing a medium form 301 accordingto Embodiment 3. The structure of the medium form 301 is basically thesame as that of the medium form 201 according to Embodiment 1, but fileunit specifying information is described in a code area 302 in additionto the linkage information. This file unit specifying informationcomprises, as shown in FIG. 15, file unit identifying information foridentifying a file unit (a file server 20A or a file device 20B or thelike) in which the hypertext is stored, hypertext identifyinginformation for identifying the original hypertext used to prepare themedium form 301, and version information for identifying a version ofthe original hypertext.

[0161] As linkage information in Embodiment 3, any linkage information(linkage information table) comprising the described positioninformation and description recognizing information shown in FIG. 8A isused. Accordingly it is assumed that the table of Dicon ID-addressconversion (intermediate address table) shown in FIG. 8B is provided inthe file server 20A and network terminal equipment 70B.

[0162] In the configuration described above, detailed description ismade for the operations specific to Embodiment 3 in the order of (1)Method of using file unit specifying information, (2) Processing forretrieving/outputting correlated information, (3) Processing formanaging a version, and (4) Processing for retrieving/outputtingcorrelated information and a medium form.

[0163] (1) Method of using file unit specifying information

[0164] As the file unit specifying information includes, as shown inFIG. 15, the file unit identifying information, hypertext identifyinginformation, and version information, any file unit (a file server 20Aor a file device 20B or the like) in which the original hypertext usedto prepare the medium form 301 is stored can be identified by referringto file unit identifying information (address of the device) in the fileunit specifying information.

[0165] Accordingly, when a plurality of file units each controlled undera plurality of different file systems exist, for example, when there area file unit like the file server 20A existing as a file system havingshared information and a file unit like the file device 20B existing asa local and personal file system, each of the file units can be useddiscretely from each other.

[0166] Because each of the file units can be separated from others andused discretely, a different format for each file unit can be employedfor a structure of each linkage information for linking a medium form301 (or a hypertext) to a correlated information file. In other words, aplurality of document information management systems each operating withlinkage information in a different format can be constructed (orcoexist) using the hard configuration of the same document informationmanagement system.

[0167] Description is made herein for a concrete method of using fileunit specifying information with reference to FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B. Atfirst, each of the network terminal equipments (retrieving unit) 70 and70B identifies an address of the device with reference to file unitidentifying information (address of the device) in the file unitspecifying information. For example, when the device address indicates adevice address of the file server 20A storing therein a file withinformation shared in the whole system, as shown in FIG. 16A, the fileserver 20A is identified from the file unit specifying information, thendescription recognizing information (Dicon ID) is identified from theselection information and the linkage information table, and thedescription recognizing information (Dicon ID) is transferred to thefile server 20A.

[0168] The file server 20A identifies address information (address ofthe correlated information file) corresponding to the receiveddescription recognizing information (Dicon ID) by referring to the tableof Dicon ID-address conversion. (intermediate address table). It isassumed herein that the address information for the table of DiconID-address conversion in the side of this file server 20A is describedwith URL.

[0169] On the other hand, when the device address indicates a deviceaddress of the file device 20B storing therein a local and personalfile, as shown in FIG. 16B, the file device 20B is identified from thefile unit specifying information, then description recognizinginformation (Dicon ID) is identified from the selection information andthe linkage information table, and the description recognizinginformation (Dicon ID) is transferred to the side of the file device 20B(concretely to the network terminal equipment 70B).

[0170] The file device 20B identifies address information (address ofthe correlated information file) corresponding to the receiveddescription recognizing information (Dicon ID) using the table of DiconID-address conversion (intermediate address table). It is assumedtherein that the address information for the table of Dicon ID-addressconversion in the side of this file device 20B is described in fileaddresses of the file device 20B.

[0171] As clearly understood from the above description, linkageinformation (the linkage information table and table of Dicon ID-addressconversion) can freely be set for each file unit (the file server 20A orfile device 20B or the like). In other words, a user can freely preparea medium form 301 using any local file or any local file system anddistribute the medium form 301 to other persons other than the file orfile system having shared information. As the description recognizinginformation (Dicon ID) itself can also freely be set by each file unit,even the same description recognizing information (Dicon ID), as shownin FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B, can resultantly be correlated to a differentcorrelated information file.

[0172] The essential meaning of providing the method of using thedocument information management system as described above is that themethod can easily support the system even when the system becomes largerin its scale on the whole. Also, when there are a plurality ofadministrators or management firms for the document informationmanagement systems, the plurality of systems can coexist with each otherwhile consistency through the whole systems is maintained. Further norestriction is given to each of the systems when it operates.

[0173] It should be noted that identification of any file unit (fileserver 20A or file device 20B or the like) according to file unitidentifying information (device address) in file unit specifyinginformation indicates the same meaning as identification of any systemto which each file unit belongs.

[0174] (2) Processing for retrieving/outputting correlated information

[0175]FIG. 17 shows a general flow chart of the processing forretrieving/outputting correlated information using the medium form 301according to Embodiment 3. At first, as shown in FIG. 5, a mark(selection information) 51 is previously added to desired describedinformation (Dicon) on a medium form 301 using the marker (selectioninformation adding unit) 50.

[0176] Then, the medium form 301 with the mark(s) 51 added thereto isread by the scanner (reader) 60 (S1701). In this step, the scanner 60reads a code area 302 from the medium form 301 as raster information andalso reads a text section with the mark(s) 51 added thereto.

[0177] The network terminal equipment (retrieving unit) 70B fetcheslinkage information (linkage information table), file unit specifyinginformation, and selection information from the code area 302 and theimage data for the text section each read by the scanner 60 using theretrieval software for a client, identifies a file unit (a file server20A or a file device 20B or the like) from the file unit specifyinginformation, and identifies description recognizing information (DiconID) from the selection information as well as the linkage information(linkage information table) (S1702).

[0178] Then, determination is made as to whether the file is a localfile or an information shared file according to the identified file unit(the file server 20A or file device 20B or the like) (S1703), theprocessing goes to step S1704 when it is determined that the file is alocal file, and goes to step S1705 when it is determined that the fileis an information shared file.

[0179] In the case of the local file, in other words, when the filedevice 20B is identified as a file unit, the network terminal equipment70B converts description recognizing information (Dicon ID) to addressinformation (an file address in the file device 20B) using the table ofDicon ID-address conversion stored therein, retrieves any appropriatecorrelated information file, transfers the retrieved correlatedinformation file to the printer 40 connected to the local file (S1704),and the processing goes to step S1708.

[0180] It should be noted that, when the network terminal equipment 70is used as a retrieving unit, the network terminal equipment 70transfers the file unit specifying information and descriptionrecognizing information (Dicon ID) to the network terminal equipment 70Bin step S1704, and then, the network terminal equipment 70B retrievesany correlated information file, transfers the retrieved correlatedinformation file to the network terminal equipment 70, further transfersthe file to a specified printer 40 via the network terminal equipment70, and the processing goes to step S1708.

[0181] On the other hand, in the case of the information shared file, inother words, when the file server 20A is identified as a file unit, thenetwork terminal equipment 70B transfers description recognizinginformation (Dicon ID) to the file server 20A (S1705).

[0182] The file server 20A converts, when having received thedescription recognizing information (Dicon ID), the descriptionrecognizing information (Dicon ID) to address information (URL in thecorrelated information file) using the table of Dicon ID-addressconversion stored therein, retrieves any appropriate correlatedinformation file (S1706), and transfers the retrieved correlatedinformation file to a specified printer 80 or 40 (S1707). It should benoted that it is assumed herein that, when it is found that a correlatedinformation file exists on any other file unit on the network Netaccording to the address information (URL in the correlated informationfile), although detailed description thereof is omitted herein, the fileserver 20A acquires correlated information file from the appropriatefile unit according to the URL in the correlated information file orsends the device address of the printer 80 or 40 as a destination fortransferring with an instruction to transfer the file back to theprinter.

[0183] The printer 80 or 40 outputs the received correlated informationfile on recording paper as a correlated information file 81 (S1708)

[0184] (3) Processing for managing a version

[0185] Next description is made for the processing for managing aversion using the hypertext identifying information and versioninformation included in the file unit specifying information withreference to FIG. 18. It should be noted that description assumes a casewhere the processing for managing a version of a medium form 301 isperformed by the network terminal equipment 70 as an example to simplifythe description.

[0186] At first, a medium form 301 is read by the scanner (reader) 60(S1801). In this case, the scanner 60 reads a code area 302 and a textsection from the medium form 301 as raster information.

[0187] The network terminal equipment (retrieving unit) 70 fetches fileunit specifying information from the code area 302 read by the scanner60 using the retrieval software for a client, identifies a file unit (afile server. 20A or a file device 20B or the like) from the file unitspecifying information, and also identifies a name of the originalhypertext used to prepare the medium form 301 as well as a version ofthe hypertext according to the hypertext identifying information and theversion information (S1802).

[0188] Then, the name of the hypertext and the version thereof aretransferred to the identified file unit (e.g. the file server 20A)(S1803).

[0189] The file server 20A retrieves, when having received the name ofthe hypertext and the version thereof, a name of any hypertext matchingone among the hypertexts stored therein, and makes verification betweenthe version of the retrieved hypertext and the received version (S1804).

[0190] Then, determination is made as to whether the versions match eachother or not as a result of verification between the versions (S1805),and when it is determined that the versions match, the file server 20Asends a message that the version of the read medium form 301 is anupdated version to the network terminal equipment 70 (S1806), and thenetwork terminal equipment 70 displays the message on the screen thereof(S1807).

[0191] On the other hand, when it is determined that the versions do notmatch, the file server 20A sends a message that the version of the readmedium form 301 is not an updated version to the network terminalequipment 70 (S1808), and the network terminal equipment 70 displays theabove message as well as a message that a medium form 301 in the updatedversion is to be outputted on the screen thereof (S1809), preparesmedium form information from the hypertext in an appropriate updatedversion, and transfers the medium form information to a specifiedprinter 80 or 40 (S1810).

[0192] The printer 80 or 40 outputs the received medium form informationon recording paper as a medium form 301 (S1811).

[0193] As described above, in Embodiment 3, versions of the medium form301 can be managed by including hypertext identifying information andversion information in the file unit specifying information. When theversion of a medium form 301 does not match the version stored therein(not updated), the network terminal equipment can let the user know thewarning that the version has already been updated by displaying it onthe screen. Also, when the version of the medium form 301 does not matchthe version stored therein, medium form information (namely a mediumform 301) in the updated version is outputted, so the user can use amedium form 301 in the updated version at any time even if the versionof the medium form 301 that the user owns is old.

[0194] (4) Processing for retrieving/outputting correlated informationand a medium form

[0195]FIG. 19 shows a general flow chart of the processing forretrieving/outputting correlated information and a medium form accordingto Embodiment 3. It is assumed herein that the medium form 301 isrecovered in the scanner 60 when the medium form 301 is read with thescanner 60, so any device with a recovery function of the medium form301 is used as the scanner 60. Also, description herein assumes a casewhere the network terminal equipment 70B is used as a retrieving unit asan example.

[0196] At first, as shown in FIG. 19, a mark (selection information) 51is previously added to desired described information (Dicon) on a mediumform 301 using the marker (selection information adding unit) 50.

[0197] Then, the medium form 301 with the mark(s) 51 added thereto isread by the scanner (reader) 60 and also recovered inside the scanner 60(S1901). In this case, the scanner 60 reads a code area 302 from themedium form 301 as raster information and also reads a text section withthe mark 51 added thereto. The medium form 301 after the mark addedthereto has been read is recovered by a recovery mechanism in thedevice.

[0198] The network terminal equipment (retrieving unit) 70B fetcheslinkage information (linkage information table), file unit specifyinginformation, and selection information from the code area 302 and theimage data for the text section each read by the scanner 60 using theretrieval software for a client, identifies a file unit (a file server20A or a file device 20B or the like) from the file unit specifyinginformation, identifies description recognizing information (Dicon ID)from the selection information as well as the linkage information(linkage information table), and identifies a name of an originalhypertext used to prepare the medium form 301 and a version of thehypertext according to the hypertext identifying information and theversion information (S1902).

[0199] Then, determination is made as to whether the file is a localfile or an information shared file according to the identified file unit(the file server 20A or file device 20B or the like) (S1903), theprocessing goes to step S1904 when it is determined that the file is alocal file, and goes to step S1906 when it is determined that the fileis an information shared file.

[0200] In the case of a local file, in other words, when the file device20B is identified as a file unit, the network terminal equipment 70Bconverts description recognizing information (Dicon ID) to addressinformation (an file address in the file device 20B) using the table ofDicon ID-address conversion stored therein, retrieves any appropriatecorrelated information file, transfers the retrieved correlatedinformation file to the printer 40 connected to the local file (S1904),then, prepares medium form information from the hypertext in anappropriate version according to the name of the hypertext and theversion thereof, transfers the medium form information to the printer 40(S1905), and the processing goes to step S1909.

[0201] It should be noted that, when the network terminal equipment 70is used as a retrieving unit, the network terminal equipment 70transfers the file unit specifying information and descriptionrecognizing information (Dicon ID) to the network terminal equipment 70Bin step S1904, and then, the network terminal equipment 70B retrievesany correlated information file, transfers the retrieved correlatedinformation file to the network terminal equipment 70, prepares mediumform information, also transfers the prepared information to the networkterminal equipment 70, further transfers the information to a specifiedprinter 40 via the network terminal equipment 70, and the processinggoes to step S1909.

[0202] On the other hand, in the case of the information shared file, inother words, when the file server 20A is identified as a file unit, thenetwork terminal equipment 70B transfers description recognizinginformation (Dicon ID) and file unit specifying information to the fileserver 20A (S1906).

[0203] The file server 20A converts, when having received the address(URL) of the correlated information file, the description recognizinginformation (Dicon ID) to address information (URL in the correlatedinformation file) using the table of Dicon ID-address conversion storedtherein, retrieves any appropriate correlated information file, andprepares medium form information from the hypertext in an appropriateversion according to the name of the hypertext and the version thereof(S1907).

[0204] The retrieved correlated information file and the prepared mediumform information are transferred to a specified printer 80 or 40(S1908).

[0205] The printer 80 or 40 outputs the received correlated informationfile on recording paper as a correlated information file 81, and alsooutputs the received medium form information on recording paper as amedium form 301 (S1909).

[0206] As described above, in the processing for retrieving/outputtingcorrelated information and a medium form, the medium form 301 that hasbeen used for retrieving correlated information is recovered and a newmedium form 301 is outputted, so that a new medium form 301 can alwaysbe provided to a user, which allows convenience in actual use to beimproved. In addition, the recovered medium forms 301 can be providedfor use again by deleting images thereon as a single unit. To describemore concretely, a method of removing images from a form by giving moistof a surface active agent thereto can be applied to toner images, whilea method of deleting color with ultraviolet rays can be applied to colorof a mark 51.

[0207]FIG. 20 shows a system diagram of a document informationmanagement system according to Embodiment 4, and the system comprises afile device 410 as a file unit with a hypertext and informationcorrelated, through link structure of the hypertext, to particularwords, sentences, symbols, or graphics on the hypertext stored thereinas a correlated information file; a medium form 420 with at least onedescribed information comprising any of words, sentences, symbols, andgraphics, linkage information for linking the described information tothe correlated information file in the file device 410, and selectioninformation for selecting particular described information among thedescribed information recorded thereon; a scanner unit 430 as acorrelated information identifying unit for reading image data from themedium form 420, identifying the correlated information file selected asdescribed above according to the selection information as well as thelinkage information in the read image data, and outputting an address ofan appropriate correlated information file; a file server 440 as acorrelated information file retrieving unit for receiving an address ofa correlated information file from the scanner unit 430 and retrievingthe appropriate correlated information file from the file device 410according to the address of the correlated information file; a printer460 as an output unit for printing the correlated information fileretrieved by the file server 440 on recording paper and outputting thepaper as a correlated information file 450; and a copying machine 470with a scanner unit 470A as a correlated information identifying unitand a printer 470B as an output unit integrated into one device.

[0208] It should be noted that each of the scanner units (correlatedinformation identifying units) 430 and 470A may comprise an existingdevice such as a server or a personal computer and a scanner connectedthereto. For example, when selection information is read from a mediumform 420 using a marking identifying method (a method of detecting amarked portion using a difference from a reference image), each of thescanner units reads a text section from the medium form 420 as rasterinformation, also reads a code area of the medium form 420 as rasterinformation, then identifies an appropriate correlated information fileaccording to the read selection information and linkage information, andoutputs an address of the correlated information file.

[0209] Each of the scanner units 430 and 470A also comprises softwaresuch as a two-dimensional bar code decoder, HTML source code developingsoftware (e.g. a browser or the like for the Internet/Intranet), andmarking identifying software.

[0210] It should be noted that the devices as described above areconnected to a network Net as shown in the figure. It is assumed hereinthat the Internet/Intranet or the like is used as the network Net, butthat the network is not particularly restricted thereto. One unit ofeach of the devices is shown in FIG. 20 to simplify the description, butit is needless to say that a plurality units of each of the devices canbe present on the network.

[0211] It is assumed herein that the structure of the medium form 420 isthe same as that of the medium form 201 (Refer to FIG. 2 to FIGS. 8A and8B) according to Embodiment 1, and that an address of correlatedinformation file is described with URL (uniform resource locator) inEmbodiment 4.

[0212] Further, it is assumed that the medium form 420 is prepared froma hypertext in the same method as that of the medium form 201 accordingto Embodiment 1.

[0213] In the construction as described above, description is made forthe processing for retrieving/outputting correlated informationaccording to Embodiment 4 with reference to the general flow chart shownin FIG. 21. At first, as shown in FIG. 5, a mark (selection information)51 is previously added to desired described information (Dicon) on amedium form 420 using a marker (selection information adding unit) 50.

[0214] Then, the medium form 420 with the mark(s) 51 added thereto isread by the scanner unit (correlated information identifying unit) 430or 470A (S2101). In this case, each of the scanner units 430, 470A readsa code area 206 from the medium form 420 as raster information and alsoreads a text section with the mark(s) 51 added thereto. With thoseoperations, linkage information and selection information are supposedto be read.

[0215] Then, each of the scanner units (correlated informationidentifying units) 430 and 470A decodes two-dimensional bar code of thecode area 206 using the two-dimensional bar code decoder from the readcode area 206 and image data for the text section, obtains HTML sourcecode of the original hypertext and linkage information or the like, andthen, develops the decoded HTML source code to raster information usingthe HTML source code developing software, extracts a difference betweenthe developed raster information and the raster information in the readtext section using the marking identifying software, obtains an imagefor the mark (selection information) 51 as well as a noise image (aslight displacement between the two raster information), further removesthe noise image by filtering, and identifies the mark (selectioninformation) 51. Then, each of the scanner units identifies describedposition information (Refer to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8) from the coordinatevalues of the mark 51, identifies an address (URL) of the correlatedinformation file from the corresponding address information, andtransfers and outputs the address to a file server 440 (S2102).

[0216] The file server (correlated information file retrieving unit) 440retrieves, when having received an address (URL) of the correlatedinformation file, an appropriate correlated information file from theappropriate file device 410 according to the address (URL) of thecorrelated information file (S2103).

[0217] The file server transfers the retrieved correlated informationfile to a printer 460 or to a printer 470B (S2104) However, when thecorrelated information file itself is found also a hypertext, as it isrequired to output the correlated information file as medium forminformation, the file server 440 prepares medium form information fromthe hypertext and transfers the medium form information to the printer460 or 470B (S2105). Specification of the printer 460 or 470B as anaddress for transferring at that time can easily be realized bydescribing it on the medium form 420 or by selecting it on the mediumform 420 although detailed description is omitted herein.

[0218] The printer 460 or 470B outputs the received correlatedinformation file (including the medium form information) on recordingpaper as a correlated information file 450 (S2106).

[0219] As described above, with the document information managementsystem according to Embodiment 4, continuity and correlation ofinformation from a hypertext as a document in the digital world such asa computer system to a medium form 420 as a paper document areconstructed through the linkage information on the medium form 420, sothat a paper document can be incorporated in the document informationmanagement system in the digital world, direct access to the digitalworld can be achieved by using the paper document as a medium, andfurther a hypertext using the paper document (paper hypertext) can berealized.

[0220] Each of the scanner units (correlated information identifyingunits) 430 and 470A reads image data from the medium form 420,identifies the correlated information file selected as described aboveaccording to the selection information as well as the linkageinformation in the read image data, and outputs an address of anappropriate correlated information file, so that only the address (URL)of the correlated information file may be transferred to the file server(correlated information file retrieving unit) 440, which allows anamount of transmission data on the network Net to be reduced, costs tobe reduced, and a transmission speed to be improved. Further the fileserver (correlated information file retrieving unit) 440 may onlyretrieve a correlated information file, so that load can bedecentralized by the system on the whole, which allows high efficiencyto be obtained.

[0221] When the correlated information file 450 is read by the scannerunit 430 and is outputted by the printer 460, any handy printer 460 orany printer 460 appropriate for a certain purpose connected to thenetwork Net can be selected for use, so that convenience in actual useis improved.

[0222] Further, when any copying machine 470 with a scanner unit(correlated information identifying unit) 470A and a printer (an outputunit) 470B integrated into one device is used, the system on the wholecan be minimized, and reading as well as outputting can be executed byone device at a place, which allows operability to be improved.

[0223]FIG. 22 shows a system diagram of a document informationmanagement system according to Embodiment 5, and the system comprises afile device 410 as a file unit with a hypertext and informationcorrelated, through link structure of the hypertext, to particularwords, sentences, symbols, or graphics on the hypertext stored thereinas a correlated information file; a medium form 420 with at least onedescribed information comprising any of words, sentences, symbols, andgraphics, linkage information for linking the described information tothe correlated information file in the file device 410, and selectioninformation for selecting particular described information among thedescribed information recorded thereon; a scanner 510 as an image datareader for reading image data from the medium form 420; a file server520 as a correlated information file identifying/retrieving unit forreceiving image data from the scanner 510, identifying an address of theselected correlated information file according to the selectioninformation as well as linkage information in the image data, andretrieving an appropriate correlated information file from the filedevice 410; a printer 460 as an output unit for printing the correlatedinformation file retrieved by the file server 520 on recording paper andoutputting the paper as a correlated information file 450; and a copyingmachine 530 with a scanner 530A as an image data reader and a printer530B as an output unit integrated into one device.

[0224] In addition, any existing scanner can be used as a scanner 510,any existing printer can be used as a printer 460, and further anyexisting copying machine can be used as a copying machine 530.

[0225] The file server (correlated information fileidentifying/retrieving unit) 520 comprises software such as atwo-dimensional bar code decoder, HTML source code developing software(e.g. a browser or the like for the Internet/Intranet), and markingidentifying software.

[0226] It should be noted that the devices as described above areconnected to a network Net as shown in the figure. It is assumed hereinthat the Internet/Intranet or the like is used as the network Net, butthe network is not particularly restricted thereto. One unit of each ofthe devices is shown in FIG. 22 to simplify the description, but it isneedless to say that a plurality units of each of the devices can bepresent on the network respectively.

[0227] The structure of the medium form 420 is the same as that of themedium form 201 (Refer to FIG. 2 to FIGS. 8A and 8B) according toEmbodiment 1, and an address of correlated information file is supposedto be described with URL (uniform resource locator) in Embodiment 5.

[0228] Further, it is assumed herein that the medium form 420 isprepared from a hypertext in the same method as that of the medium form201 according to Embodiment 1.

[0229] In the construction as described above, description is made forthe processing for retrieving/outputting correlated informationaccording to Embodiment 5 with reference to the general flow chart shownin FIG. 23. At first, as shown in FIG. 5, a mark (selection information)51 is previously added to desired described information (Dicon) on amedium form 420 using a marker (selection information adding unit) 50.

[0230] Then, the medium form 420 with the mark(s) 51 added thereto isread by the scanner 510 or 530A (S2301). In this case, each of thescanners 510, 530A reads a code area 206 from the medium form 420 asimage data (raster information) and also reads a text section with themark(s) 51 added thereto. With those operations, linkage information andselection information are supposed to be read.

[0231] Then, the read image data is transferred to the file server(correlated information file identifying/retrieving unit) 520, the fileserver 520 decodes two-dimensional bar code of the code area 206 usingthe two-dimensional bar code decoder from the read code area 206 andimage data for the text section, obtains HTML source code of theoriginal hypertext and the linkage information or the like, and then,develops the decoded HTML source code to raster information using theHTML source code developing software, extracts a difference between thedeveloped raster information and the raster information in the read textsection using the marking identifying software, obtains an image for themark (selection information) 51 as well as a noise image (a slightdisplacement between the two raster information), further removes thenoise image by filtering, and identifies the mark (selectioninformation) 51. Then, the file server identifies described positioninformation (Refer to FIG. 7 and FIGS. 8A and 8B) from the coordinatevalues of the mark 51, and identifies an address (URL) of the correlatedinformation file from the corresponding address information. Then thefile server 520 retrieves an appropriate correlated information filefrom the appropriate file device 410 according to the address (URL) ofthe identified correlated information file (S2302).

[0232] Then, the file server 520 transfers the retrieved correlatedinformation file to a printer 460 or to a printer 530B (S2303). However,when the correlated information file itself is also found a hypertext,as it is required to output the correlated information file as mediumform information, the file server 520 prepares medium form informationfrom the hypertext and transfers the medium form information to theprinter 460 or 530B (S2304). Specification of the printer 460 or 530B asan address for transferring at that time can easily be realized bydescribing it on the medium form 420 or by selecting it on the mediumform 420 although detailed description is omitted herein.

[0233] The printer 460 or 530B outputs the received correlatedinformation file (including the medium form information) on recordingpaper as a correlated information file 450 (S2305)

[0234] As described above, with the document information managementsystem according to Embodiment 5, continuity and correlation ofinformation from a hypertext as a document in the digital world such asa computer system to a medium form 420 as a paper document areconstructed through the linkage information on the medium form 420, sothat a paper document can be incorporated in the document informationmanagement system in the digital world, direct access to the digitalworld can be achieved by using the paper document as a medium, andfurther a hypertext using the paper document (paper hypertext) can berealized.

[0235] In addition, each of the scanners (image data reader) 510 and530A simply reads image data, from a medium form 420, so that anyexisting scanner can be used.

[0236] When the correlated information file 450 is read by the scanner430 and is outputted by the printer 460, any handy printer 460 or anyprinter 460 appropriate for a certain purpose connected to the networkNet can be selected for using, so that convenience in actual use isimproved.

[0237] Further, when any copying machine 530 with a scanner 530A and aprinter 530B integrated into one device is used, the system on the wholecan be minimized, and reading as well as outputting can be executed bythe identical device at the same place, which allows operability to beimproved.

[0238] A document information management system according to Embodiment6 is an example in which all the units or some of the documentinformation management system according to Embodiment 5 shown in FIG. 22are integrated into one apparatus.

[0239]FIG. 24 shows a system diagram of the document informationmanagement system according to Embodiment 6, and the system comprises afile server 610 as a file unit; a PUI station apparatus 620 comprising ascanner 620 a as an image data reader for reading image data from amedium form 420, a network terminal equipment 620 b as a correlatedinformation file identifying/retrieving unit for receiving image datafrom the scanner 620 a, identifying an address of the selectedcorrelated information file according to selection information andlinkage information in the image data, and retrieving an appropriatecorrelated information file from the file server 610, and a printer 620c as an output unit for printing the retrieved correlated informationfile on recording paper by the network terminal equipment 620 b andoutputting the paper as a correlated information file 450; and a networkterminal equipment 630 as a display unit for displaying the correlatedinformation file on a screen.

[0240] It should be noted that the PUI station apparatus 620 is soconstructed that the scanner 620 a and the printer 620 c are integratedby being connected to the network terminal equipment 620 b connected tothe network Net with a serial cable or a parallel cable, but theconstruction is not always restricted thereto, and for example, thenetwork terminal equipment 620 b, scanner 620 a, and printer 620 c mayphysically be integrated into one apparatus.

[0241] With the construction as described above, with Embodiment 6, thesame effects as those in Embodiment 5 can be achieved and a series ofworks can be performed with a single device, which allows operabilityand convenience in actual use to be improved.

[0242] A document information management system according to Embodiment7 is realized by providing the document information management systemaccording to any of Embodiment 4 and Embodiment 5 on one line of thenetwork Net.

[0243]FIG. 25 shows a system diagram of the document informationmanagement system according to Embodiment 7, and the system comprises afile device 410 as a file unit, a scanner unit 430 as a correlatedinformation identifying unit, a file server 440 as a correlatedinformation file retrieving unit, a printer 460 as an output unit, ascanner 510 as an image data reader, and a filer server 520 as acorrelated information file identifying/retrieving unit. In the figure,the same reference numerals as those in Embodiment 4 or Embodiment 5indicate the common configuration therebetween, so that detaileddescription is omitted herein.

[0244] It should be noted that, as shown in the figure, the file unit,correlated information identifying unit, image data reader, correlatedinformation file retrieving unit, correlated information fileidentifying/retrieving unit, and output unit are network terminalequipments or network peripheral devices each connected to the networkNet respectively. Such construction that one unit for each of the unitsis provided on the network Net is shown to simplify the descriptionherein, but it is clearly understood that a plurality units of each ofthe units can be present on the network Net.

[0245] The scanner (image data reader) 510 searches for the file server520 as a correlated information file identifying/retrieving unit fromthe file server (correlated information file retrieving unit) 440 aswell as from the file server(correlated information fileidentifying/retrieving unit) 520 connected to the network and outputsthe read image data.

[0246] Also, the scanner unit (correlated information identifying unit)430 searches for an available file server from the file server(correlated information file retrieving unit) 440 and the file server(correlated information file identifying/retrieving unit) 520 connectedto the network Net, identifies the selected correlated information fileaccording to the selection information and linkage information in theread image data when the available retrieving unit is the file server(correlated information file retrieving unit) 440, outputs an address ofan appropriate correlated information file, and outputs the read imagedata as it is when the available file sever is the file server(correlated information file identifying/ retrieving unit) 520.

[0247] Further, it is assumed herein that an address of the correlatedinformation file is described with URL (uniform resource locator).

[0248] In the construction as described above, description is made foroperations specific to Embodiment 7 with reference to FIG. 26 to FIG.28.

[0249] Description is made for the processing for retrieving/outputtingcorrelated information when a medium form 420 is read by the scannerunit (correlated information identifying unit) 430 with reference to thegeneral flow chart shown in FIG. 26 and FIG. 27. It should be notedthat, in FIG. 26 and FIG. 27, steps S2102 to S2106 are the same as thosein FIG. 21, and steps S2302 to S2305 are the same as those in FIG. 23,so that detailed description is omitted herein.

[0250] At first, as shown in FIG. 5, a mark (selection information) 51is previously added to desired described information (Dicon) on a mediumform 420 using a marker (selection information adding unit) 50.

[0251] Then, the medium form 420 with the mark(s) 51 added thereto isread by the scanner unit (correlated information identifying unit) 430(S2601). In this case, the scanner unit 430 reads a code area 206 fromthe medium form 420 as raster information and also reads a text sectionwith the mark(s) 51 added thereto. With those operations, linkageinformation and selection information are read.

[0252] Then, the scanner unit (correlated information identifying unit)430 identifies a file server by searching for an available file server(S2602), and determines whether the available file server is a fileserver 440 as a correlated information file retrieving unit or a fileserver 520 as a correlated information file identifying/retrieving unit(S2603).

[0253] When it is determined that the available file server is the fileserver (correlated information file retrieving unit) 440, the scannerunit 430 decodes two-dimensional bar code of the code area 206, developsthe decoded HTML source code to raster information, extracts adifference between the developed raster information and the rasterinformation in the read text section, obtains an image for the mark(selection information) 51 as well as a noise image (a slightdisplacement between the two raster information), further executesfiltering thereto, and identifies the mark (selection information) 51.Then, the scanner unit identifies described position information,identifies an address (URL) of the correlated information file from thecorresponding address information, and transfers and outputs the addressto the file server 440 (S2102).

[0254] The file server (correlated information file retrieving unit) 440retrieves an appropriate correlated information file from theappropriate file device 410 according to the address (URL) of thecorrelated information file (S2103), and transfers the retrievedcorrelated information file to the printer 460 (S2104). However, whenthe correlated information file itself is found a hypertext, as it isrequired to output the correlated information file as medium forminformation, the file server 440 prepares medium form information fromthe hypertext and transfers the medium form information to the printer460 (S2105).

[0255] The printer 460 outputs the received correlated information file(including the medium form information) on recording paper as acorrelated information file 450 (S2106) On the other hand, when it isdetermined in step S2603 that the available file server is the fileserver (correlated information file identifying/retrieving unit) 520,the read image data is transferred to the file server (correlatedinformation file identifying/retrieving unit) 520, the file server 520decodes the two-dimensional bar code from the read code area 206 andimage data for the test section, develops the decoded HTML source codeto raster information, extracts a difference between the developedraster information and the raster information in the read text section,obtains an image for the mark (selection information) 51 as well as anoise image (a slight displacement between the two raster information),further removes the noise image by filtering, and identifies the mark(selection information ) 51. Then, the file server identifies describedposition information, identifies an address (URL) of the correlatedinformation file from the corresponding address information, andretrieves an appropriate correlated information file from theappropriate file device 410 according to the address (URL) of theidentified correlated information file (S2302).

[0256] Then, the file server 520 transfers the retrieved correlatedinformation file to the printer 460 (S2303) However, when the correlatedinformation file itself is also found a hypertext, as it is required tooutput the correlated information file as medium form information, thefile server 520 prepares medium form information from the hypertext andtransfers the medium form information to the printer 460 (S2304).

[0257] The printer 460 outputs the received correlated information file(including the medium form information) on recording paper as acorrelated information file 450 (S2305).

[0258] Next description is made for the processing forretrieving/outputting correlated information when a medium form 420 isread by the scanner (image data reader) 510 with reference to thegeneral flowchart shown in FIG. 28. It should be noted that the generalflow chart shown in FIG. 28 is basically the same as that in Embodiment5 shown in FIG. 23, so that description is made herein only for thedifferent points therefrom.

[0259] At first, the medium form 420 with the mark(s) 51 added theretois read by the scanner (image data reader) 510 (S2301) Then, the scanner(image data reader) 510 searches for the file server 520 as a correlatedinformation file identifying/retrieving unit from the file server(correlated information file retrieving unit) 440 as well as from thefile server (correlated information file identifying/retrieving unit)520 connected to the network and transfers the read image data (S2801).

[0260] As described above, with Embodiment 7, the document informationmanagement system comprises the scanner unit (correlated informationfile identifying unit) 430, scanner (image data reader) 510, file server(correlated information file retrieving unit) 440, and file server(correlated information file identifying/retrieving unit) 520, and theside of the scanner unit (correlated information file identifying unit)430 or the scanner (image data reader) 510 retrieves a file servercapable of being combined with the function thereof and executesprocessing, so that different types of file server can be presenttogether with each other on the network Net. In other words, it ispossible to select any optimal file server under such circumstances thatboth the file server (correlated information file retrieving unit) 440and file server (correlated information file identifying/retrievingunit) 520 are present on the network Net.

[0261] As described above, the document information management systemaccording to the present invention comprises a hypertext preparing unitfor preparing a hypertext; a file unit for storing therein hypertextsprepared by the hypertext preparing unit and correlated informationfiles correlated to each other through link structure of the hypertexts;a medium form information preparing unit for receiving the hypertext,preparing image extraction information by extracting only image datafrom information in the hypertext, preparing particular describedinformation as well as linkage information for linking the describedinformation to a correlated information file in the file unit frominformation having link structure such as a button, a switch, or an iconof information in the hypertext, and preparing medium form informationby synthesizing the image extraction information, described information,and linkage information; a medium form output unit for printing themedium form information on recording paper and outputting the recordingpaper as a medium form; a selection information adding unit for addingselection information for selecting a desired described information fromthose printed on the medium form; a reader for reading the selectioninformation and linkage information from the medium form with theselection information added via the selection information adding unit; aretrieving unit for retrieving an appropriate correlated informationfile from the file unit according to the selection information as wellas linkage information read by the reader; and an output unit foroutputting the correlated information file retrieved by the retrievingunit, so that continuity and correlation of information between adigital world such as a computer system and a paper document can beconstructed, a paper document can be incorporated in the documentinformation management system in the digital world, direct access to thedigital world can be achieved by using the paper document as a medium,and further a hypertext using the paper document (paper hypertext) canbe realized.

[0262] The document information management system according to thepresent invention comprises a plurality of file units each storingtherein hypertexts and correlated information files correlated to eachother through link structure of the hypertexts; a medium forminformation preparing unit for receiving the hypertext and preparingimage extraction information by extracting only image data from theinformation in the hypertext, preparing particular described informationas well as linkage information for linking the described information toa correlated information file in a particular file unit among theplurality of file units from the information having link structure suchas a button, a switch, or an icon of the information in the hypertext,further preparing file unit specifying information for specifying a fileunit in which the appropriate hypertext is stored from the plurality offile units, and preparing the medium form information by synthesizingthe image extraction information, described information, linkageinformation, and file unit specifying information; a medium form outputunit for printing the medium form information on recording paper andoutputting the recording paper as a medium form; a selection informationadding unit for adding selection information for selecting desireddescribed information from those printed on the medium form; a readerfor reading the selection information, linkage information, and fileunit specifying information from the medium form with the selectioninformation added via the selection information adding unit; aretrieving unit for retrieving an appropriate correlated informationfile from an appropriate file unit among the plurality of file unitsaccording to the selection information, linkage information, and fileunit specifying information read by the reader; and an output unit foroutputting the correlated information file retrieved by the retrievingunit, so that continuity and correlation of information between adigital world such as a computer system and a paper document can beconstructed, a paper document can be incorporated in the documentinformation management system in the digital world, direct access to thedigital world can be achieved by using the paper document as a medium,and further a hypertext using the paper document (paper hypertext) canbe realized.

[0263] In the document information management system according to thepresent invention further comprises a display unit for displaying themedium form information on a screen thereof, so that workability andconvenience in actual use can further be improved.

[0264] In the document information management system according to thepresent invention, the retrieving unit further retrieves an appropriatehypertext from the appropriate file unit according to the file unitspecifying information and linkage information read by the reader, andthe output unit further outputs the hypertext retrieved by theretrieving unit, so that convenience of the system can be improved.

[0265] In the document information management system according to thepresent invention, the linkage information includes described positioninformation indicating a described position of each describedinformation on the medium form and description recognizing informationfor recognizing described information described at a position indicatedby the described position information, and the retrieving unit has anintermediate address table for converting the description recognizinginformation to an address of the correlated information file, so thataddresses of the correlated information file can integrally be managed,which makes it easy to construct the system and to change correlatedinformation file or the like.

[0266] In the document information management system according to thepresent invention, the file unit specifying information comprises fileunit identifying information for identifying a file unit in which thehypertext is stored, hypertext identifying information for identifyingan original hypertext used to prepare the medium form, and versioninformation for identifying a version of the original hypertext, so thatidentification of a file unit, identification of an original hypertext,and further identification of a version thereof can be performed. Inother words, medium forms and the original hypertext thereof canaccurately and easily be managed.

[0267] The document information management system according to thepresent invention comprises a file unit with information concerningparticular words, sentences, symbols, or graphics previously storedtherein as a correlated information file; a medium form with at leastone described information comprising any of words, sentences, symbols,and graphics, linkage information for linking the described informationto the correlated information file in the file unit, and selectioninformation for selecting particular described information among thedescribed information recorded thereon; a correlated informationidentifying unit for reading image data from the medium form,identifying the correlated information file selected as described aboveaccording to the selection information as well as the linkageinformation in the read image data, and outputting an address of anappropriate correlated information file; a correlated information fileretrieving unit for receiving an address of a correlated informationfile from the correlated information identifying unit and retrieving theappropriate correlated information file from the file unit according tothe address of the correlated information file; and an output unit foroutputting the correlated information file retrieved by the correlatedinformation file retrieving unit, so that continuity and correlation ofinformation between a digital world such as a computer system and apaper document can be constructed, a paper document can be incorporatedin the document information management system in the digital world,direct access to the digital world can be achieved by using the paperdocument as a medium, and further a hypertext using the paper document(paper hypertext) can be realized.

[0268] Also, the correlated information identifying unit reads imagedata from the medium form and outputs an address of the correlatedinformation file, so that a data amount transferred to the correlatedinformation file retrieving unit can be reduced. In other words, as asmall amount of data is transferred, the system has advantages in atransmission speed and cost when the units are connected to each otherthrough a network.

[0269] Further, the correlated information file retrieving unit may onlyretrieve a correlated information file according to an address of thecorrelated information file, so that load onto the correlatedinformation file retrieving unit can be reduced, which is suitable forconstruction of a large-scale document information management system.

[0270] In the document information management system according to thepresent invention, an address of the correlated information is describedwith URL (uniform resource locator), so that, as a small amount of datais transferred, the system has advantages in a transmission speed andcost when the units are connected to each other through a network.

[0271] In the document information management system according to thepresent invention, the file unit, correlated information identifyingunit, correlated information file retrieving unit, and output unit arenetwork terminal equipments or network peripheral devices connected to anetwork respectively, and a plurality of the units may be present in thesystem, so that a large-scale system can easily be constructed, andextension as well as change of the system can easily be performed.

[0272] In the document information management system according to thepresent invention, the correlated information identifying unit andoutput unit are integrated into one apparatus, so that operability andconvenience in actual use can be improved.

[0273] The document information management system according to thepresent invention comprises a file unit with information relating toparticular words, sentences, symbols, or graphics previously storedtherein as a correlated information file; a medium form with at leastone described information comprising any of words, sentences, symbols,and graphics, linkage information for linking the described informationto the correlated information file in the file unit, and selectioninformation for selecting particular described information among thedescribed information recorded thereon; an image data reader for readingimage data from the medium form; a correlated information fileidentifying/retrieving unit for receiving the image data from the imagedata reader, identifying an address of the selected correlatedinformation file according to the selection information and linkageinformation in the image data, and retrieving an appropriate correlatedinformation file from said file unit; and an output unit for outputtingthe correlated information file retrieved by the correlated informationfile identifying/retrieving unit, so that continuity and correlation ofinformation between a digital world such as a computer system and apaper document can be constructed, a paper document can be incorporatedin the document information management system in the digital world,direct access to the digital world can be achieved by using the paperdocument as a medium, and further a hypertext using the paper document(paper hypertext) can be realized.

[0274] In addition, the image data reader only reads image data from themedium form, so that any existing scanner or the like can be used, whichmakes it easy to construct the system.

[0275] In the document information file management system according tothe present invention, an address of the correlated information file isdescribed with URL (uniform resource locator), so that, as a smallamount of data is transferred, the system has advantages in atransmission speed and cost when the units are connected to each otherthrough a network.

[0276] In the document information file management system according tothe present invention, the file unit, image data reader, correlatedinformation file identifying/retrieving unit and output unit are networkterminal equipments or network peripheral devices connected to a networkrespectively and a plurality of the units may be present in the system,so that a large-scale system can easily be constructed, and extension aswell as change of the system can easily be performed.

[0277] In the document information file management system according tothe present invention, the image data reader and output unit areintegrated into one apparatus, so that operability and convenience inactual use can be improved.

[0278] In the document information file management system according tothe present invention, further comprises a display unit for displayingthe correlated information file on a screen thereof, so that operabilityand convenience in actual use can be improved.

[0279] In the document information file management system according tothe present invention, all or some of the units each constituting thedocument information management system are integrated into oneapparatus, so that the apparatus or the system can be minimized, whichis suitable for a small-scale system.

[0280] The document information management system according to thepresent invention comprises a file unit with information relating toparticular words, sentences, symbols, or graphics previously storedtherein as a correlated information file; a medium form with at leastone described information comprising any of words, sentences, symbols,and graphics, linkage information for linking the described informationto the correlated information file in the file unit, and selectioninformation for selecting particular described information among thedescribed information recorded thereon; a correlated informationidentifying unit for reading image data from the medium form,identifying the selected correlated information file according to theselection information as well as linkage information in the read imagedata, and outputting an address of an appropriate correlated informationfile; a correlated information file retrieving unit for receiving anaddress of the correlated information file from the correlatedinformation identifying unit and retrieving an appropriate correlatedinformation file from the file unit according to the address of thecorrelated information file; an image data reader for reading image datafrom the medium form; a correlated information fileidentifying/retrieving unit for receiving image data from the image datareader, identifying an address of the selected correlated informationfile according to the selection information and linkage information inthe image data, and retrieving the appropriate correlated informationfile from the file unit; and an output unit for outputting thecorrelated information file retrieved by the correlated information fileretrieving unit or the correlated information fileidentifying/retrieving unit, so that continuity and correlation ofinformation between a digital world such as a computer system and apaper document can be constructed, a paper document can be incorporatedin the document information management system in the digital world,direct access to the digital world can be achieved by using the paperdocument as a medium, and further a hypertext using the paper document(paper hypertext) can be realized.

[0281] In addition, when the medium form is to be read, the correlatedinformation identifying unit or image data reader can be used, so thatflexibility in system construction or in extension or change of thesystem can be enhanced.

[0282] In the document information file management system according tothe present invention, the file unit, correlated information identifyingunit, image data reader, correlated information file retrieving unit,correlated information file identifying/retrieving unit and output unitare network terminal equipments or network peripheral devices connectedto a network respectively and a plurality of the units may be present inthe system, so that a large-scale system can easily be constructed, andextension as well as change of the system can easily be performed.

[0283] In the document information file management system according tothe present invention, the image data reader searches for the correlatedinformation file identifying/retrieving unit from the correlatedinformation file retrieving units as well as from the correlatedinformation file identifying/retrieving units connected to the networkand outputs the read image data, so that the image data reader forreading a medium form retrieves an available retrieving unit (correlatedinformation file identifying/retrieving unit) and executes theprocessing, and for this reason, different types of retrieving units canbe present on a network. In other words, flexibility in systemconstruction or in extension or change of the system can be enhanced.

[0284] In the document information file management system according tothe present invention, the correlated information identifying unitsearches for an available retrieving unit from the correlatedinformation file retrieving units and correlated information fileidentifying/retrieving units connected to the network, identifies theselected correlated information file according to the selectioninformation and linkage information in the read image data when theavailable retrieving unit is the correlated information file retrievingunit, outputs an address of an appropriate correlated information file,and outputs the read image data as it is when the available retrievingunit is the correlated information file identifying/retrieving unit, sothat the correlated information identifying unit for reading a mediumform retrieves an available retrieving unit (correlated information fileretrieving unit or correlated information file identifying/retrievingunit) and executes the processing, and for this reason, different typesof retrieving units can be present on a network. In other words,flexibility in system construction or in extension or change of thesystem can be enhanced.

[0285] In the document information file management system according tothe present invention, an address of the correlated information file isdescribed with URL (uniform resource locator), so that, as a small dataamount is transferred, the system has advantages in a transmission speedand cost when the units are connected to each other through a network.

[0286] This application is based on Japanese patent application No. HEI9-031901 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Feb. 17, 1997, theentire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0287] Although the invention has been described with respect to aspecific embodiment for a complete and clear disclosure, the appendedclaims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodyingall modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to oneskilled in the art which fairly fall within the basic teaching hereinset forth.

What is claimed is:
 1. A document information management systemcomprising: a hypertext preparing unit for preparing a hypertext; a fileunit for storing therein hypertexts prepared by said hypertext preparingunit and correlated information files correlated to each other throughlink structure of said hypertexts; a medium form information preparingunit for receiving said hypertext, preparing image extractioninformation by extracting only image data from information concerningsaid hypertext, preparing particular described information as well aslinkage information for linking said described information to acorrelated information file in said file unit from information havinglink structure such as a button, a switch, or an icon of informationconcerning said hypertext, and preparing medium form information bysynthesizing said image extraction information, described information,and linkage information; a medium form output unit for printing saidmedium form information on recording paper and outputting the recordingpaper as a medium form; a selection information adding unit for addingselection information for selecting a desired described information fromthose printed on said medium form; a reader for reading said selectioninformation and linkage information from said medium form with theselection information added via said selection information adding unit;a retrieving unit for retrieving an appropriate correlated informationfile from said file unit according to the selection information as wellas linkage information read by said reader; and an output unit foroutputting the correlated information file retrieved by said retrievingunit.
 2. A document information management system according to claim 1further comprising a display unit for displaying said medium forminformation on a screen thereof.
 3. A document information managementinformation according to claim 1; wherein said linkage informationincludes described position information indicating a described positionof each described information on said medium form and descriptionrecognizing information for recognizing described information describedat a position indicated by said described position information, and saidretrieving unit has an intermediate address table for converting saiddescription recognizing information to an address of said correlatedinformation file.
 4. A document information management systemcomprising: a plurality of file units each storing therein hypertextsand correlated information files correlated to each other through linkstructure of said hypertexts; a medium form information preparing unitfor receiving said hypertext and preparing image extraction informationby extracting only image data from the information concerning saidhypertext, preparing particular described information as well as linkageinformation for linking said described information to a correlatedinformation file in a particular file unit among said plurality of fileunits from the information having link structure such as a button, aswitch, or an icon of the information concerning said hypertext, furtherpreparing file unit specifying information for specifying a file unit inwhich the appropriate hypertext is stored from said plurality of fileunits, and preparing the medium form information by synthesizing saidimage extraction information, described information, linkageinformation, and file unit specifying information; a medium form outputunit for printing said medium form information on recording paper andoutputting the recording paper as a medium form; a selection informationadding unit for adding selection information for selecting desireddescribed information from those printed on said medium form; a readerfor reading said selection information, linkage information, and fileunit specifying information from said medium form with the selectioninformation added via said selection information adding unit; aretrieving unit for retrieving an appropriate correlated informationfile from an appropriate file unit among said plurality of file unitsaccording to the selection information, linkage information, and fileunit specifying information read by said reader; and an output unit foroutputting the correlated information file retrieved by said retrievingunit.
 5. A document information management system according to claim 4further comprising a display unit for displaying said medium forminformation on a screen thereof.
 6. A document information managementsystem according to claim 4; wherein said retrieving unit furtherretrieves an appropriate hypertext from said appropriate file unitaccording to the file unit specifying information and linkageinformation read by said reader, and said output unit further outputsthe hypertext retrieved by said retrieving unit.
 7. A documentinformation management information according to claim 4; wherein saidlinkage information includes described position information indicating adescribed position of each described information on said medium form anddescription recognizing information for recognizing describedinformation described at a position indicated by said described positioninformation, and said retrieving unit has an intermediate address tablefor converting said description recognizing information to an address ofsaid correlated information file.
 8. A document information managementsystem according to claim 4; wherein said file unit specifyinginformation comprises file unit identifying information for identifyinga file unit in which said hypertext is stored, hypertext identifyinginformation for identifying an original hypertext used to prepare saidmedium form, and version information for identifying a version of saidoriginal hypertext.
 9. A document information management systemcomprising: a file unit with information concerning particular words,sentences, symbols, or graphics previously stored therein as acorrelated information file; a medium form with at least one describedinformation comprising any of words, sentences, symbols, and graphics,linkage information for linking said described information to thecorrelated information file in said file unit, and selection informationfor selecting particular described information among said describedinformation recorded thereon; a correlated information identifying unitfor reading image data from said medium form, identifying the correlatedinformation file selected as described above according to the selectioninformation as well as the linkage information in said read image data,and outputting an address of an appropriate correlated information file;a correlated information file retrieving unit for receiving an addressof a correlated information file from said correlated informationidentifying unit and retrieving the appropriate correlated informationfile from said file unit according to the address of said correlatedinformation file; and an output unit for outputting the correlatedinformation file retrieved by said correlated information fileretrieving unit.
 10. A document information management system accordingto claim 9; wherein an address of said correlated information isdescribed with URL (uniform resource locator).
 11. A documentinformation management system according to claim 9; wherein said fileunit, correlated information identifying unit, correlated informationfile retrieving unit, and output unit are network terminal equipments ornetwork peripheral devices connected to a network respectively, and aplurality of the units may be present in the system.
 12. A documentinformation management system according to claim 9; wherein saidcorrelated information identifying unit and output unit are integratedinto one apparatus.
 13. A document information management systemaccording to claim 9 further comprising a display unit for displayingsaid correlated information file on a screen thereof.
 14. A documentinformation management system according to claim 9, wherein all or someof the units each constituting said document information managementsystem are integrated into one apparatus.
 15. A document informationmanagement system comprising: a file unit with information relating toparticular words, sentences, symbols, or graphics previously storedtherein as a correlated information file; a medium form with at leastone described information comprising any of words, sentences, symbols,and graphics, linkage information for linking said described informationto the correlated information file in said file unit, and selectioninformation for selecting particular described information among saiddescribed information recorded thereon; an image data reader for readingimage data from said medium form; a correlated information fileidentifying/retrieving unit for receiving the image data from said imagedata reader, identifying an address of the selected correlatedinformation file according to the selection information and linkageinformation in said image data, and retrieving an appropriate correlatedinformation file from said file unit; and an output unit for outputtingthe correlated information file retrieved by said correlated informationfile identifying/retrieving unit.
 16. A document information filemanagement system according to claim 15; wherein an address of saidcorrelated information file is described with URL (uniform resourcelocator).
 17. A document information management system according toclaim 15; wherein said file unit, image data reader, correlatedinformation file identifying/retrieving unit and output unit are networkterminal equipments or network peripheral devices connected to a networkrespectively and a plurality of said units may be present in the system.18. A document information management system according to claim 15;wherein said image data reader and output unit are integrated into oneapparatus.
 19. A document information management system according toclaim 15 further comprising a display unit for displaying saidcorrelated information file on a screen thereof.
 20. A documentinformation management system according to claim 15, wherein all or someof the units each constituting said document information managementsystem are integrated into one apparatus.
 21. A document informationmanagement system comprising: a file unit with information relating toparticular words, sentences, symbols, or graphics previously storedtherein as a correlated information file; a medium form with at leastone described information comprising any of words, sentences, symbols,and graphics, linkage information for linking said described informationto the correlated information file in said file unit, and selectioninformation for selecting particular described information among saiddescribed information recorded thereon; a correlated informationidentifying unit for reading image data from said medium form,identifying the selected correlated information file according to theselection information as well as linkage information in said read imagedata, and outputting an address of an appropriate correlated informationfile; a correlated information file retrieving unit for receiving anaddress of the correlated information file from said correlatedinformation identifying unit and retrieving an appropriate correlatedinformation file from said file unit according to the address of saidcorrelated information file; an image data reader for reading image datafrom said medium form; a correlated information fileidentifying/retrieving unit for receiving image data from said imagedata reader, identifying an address of the selected correlatedinformation file according to the selection information and linkageinformation in said image data, and retrieving the appropriatecorrelated information file from said file unit; and an output unit foroutputting the correlated information file retrieved by said correlatedinformation file retrieving unit or said correlated information fileidentifying/retrieving unit.
 22. A document information managementsystem according to claim 21; wherein said file unit, correlatedinformation identifying unit, image data reader, correlated informationfile retrieving unit, correlated information file identifying/retrievingunit and output unit are network terminal equipments or networkperipheral devices connected to a network respectively and a pluralityof said units may be present in the system.
 23. A document informationmanagement system according to claim 22; wherein said image data readersearches for said correlated information file identifying/retrievingunit from the correlated information file retrieving units as well asfrom the correlated information file identifying/retrieving unitsconnected to said network and outputs said read image data.
 24. Adocument information management system according to claim 22; whereinsaid correlated information identifying unit searches for an availableretrieving unit from the correlated information file retrieving unitsand correlated information file identifying/retrieving units connectedto said network, identifies the selected correlated information fileaccording to the selection information and linkage information in saidread image data when said available retrieving unit is the correlatedinformation file retrieving unit, outputs an address of an appropriatecorrelated information file, and outputs said read image data as it iswhen said available retrieving unit is the correlated information fileidentifying/retrieving unit.
 25. A document information managementsystem according to claim 21; wherein an address of said correlatedinformation file is described with URL (uniform resource locator).